Today we did not write class diaries; I just asked you to make some notes of what you learned from the work of other groups. A summary (and commentary) of the discussion in the class follows the assignments:
 

Assignments, (in class 5.2.):
 

1) "Herodians"
Where can you find Herod(s) in the Gospel of Matthew?
Their relation to Jesus and his friends?
Other kings mentioned in Mt?

2) "Nazarenes"
The Passages where Jesus is explicitly described as a king?
What kind of king he is?
How does Jesus' kingship differ from the kingship of Herod?
 

3) "Scribes trained for the kingdom of heaven"
Jesus' kingship in the light of Matt 28:16-20
 

The findings of the "Herodians"

King Herod is mentioned in two stories (several occurrences in each) in Matthew: In ch 2, in connection with the birth narratives and in ch 14 in connection with the story about John the Baptist's execution. In the birth narratives it is Herod the Great (and Archelaos in 2:22), and Herod Antipas in Mt 14. In both instances the family of Herod is hostile to Jesus and his friend John. In Matthew Jesus and John both come on the "way of rightousness" (5:17-20; 21:32) and the wording of their message has the same (deuteronomistic) tone: "Repent, the kingdom of heaven has drawn near" (3:2; 4:17). They both are also persecuted by Herod's family. In Matt 2 the tension between Herod and Jesus is cleverly described. There is the true king (from the narrator point of view) whose kingship is recognized (anticipating the gentile mission) by the magi in the East and there is the jealous Jewish king genrally known for his Idumean roots, in contrast to Jesus genuine Davidic origin. If you did not yet read Matt 1-2, be sure to do that!
 

The findings of the "Nazarenes"

    Jesus is described as a king of the Jews in 2:2 (by the magi) and in the passion narrative in 27:11 (Pilate asks Jesus if he is one), 27:29 (the soldiers' "greeting"), 27:37 (the sign on the cross), 27:42 (Jesus is asked to step off the cross). All the occurrences except the first one by the magi are disparaging. Thus Jesus does not meet the standards of a King. Keep in mind here also his "royal" entry to Jerusalem!
 

The findings of the "Scribes trained for the kingdom of  heaven" (For the title of the group, see Matt 13:52 that is often regarded as a kind of self portrait of the author).

    Matt 28:16-20 shares  many words and phrases with three OT passages: Dan 7:14; Deut 4:39-40 ; 2 Chr 36:23 (see the handouts; copies from my Entering the Kingdom of Heaven). Our "Scribes" were not sure if the same words showed that the author really had used these OT passages when writing the gospel. Perhaps the similarities could be explained on the grounds that the treatment of the same theme reguires similar expressions. In any case, we perhaps agreed that in the light of these OT passages Jesus appears as a ruler with the same kind of qualities as the Son of Man has in Daniel, God has in Deuteronomy, and Cyrus the king of Persia has in the Chronicles. Thus, although Jesus does not meet the traditional standards of a king explicitly he is, in the presence of his own described as the "ruler of the universe" (Matt 28:16-20) who'll also sit on his throne and judge the nations  according to what they did to him and his followers (25:31-46).
 
 

Assignments for 12.2.2001
 

1) Read (or browse through) Mt and create yourself a picture of how the theme of Jesus' kingship is developed/emphasized in the Gospel. On the whole, I think that the more you read Matthew during this course the more you learn!

2) Read W. Carter's article, CBQ 55 (1993).

Questions:

The relationship between the crowds and the disciples?
The relationship between the crowds and the Jewish leaders?
What is the function of Matthew's presentation of crowds for his audience? What purpose does the presentation serve in Matthew's community?